What does tiki mean to you? - General Tiki

K Kaiwaza Tiki Socialite Waikiki Beach, Hawaii Joined: Aug 06, 2003 Posts: 563	K Kaiwaza Posted posted on Mon, Oct 21, 2013 10:43 AM Since the question is "What is tiki to YOU?" rather than creating a definitive definition, I'll answer. Cause I think the going back & forth gets kinda pointless, although it's interesting to hear the different viewpoints. So, to ME...tiki is.... Tiki is a suburban American reaction to heavier exposure to Pacific, Malayo-Polynesian, etc culture through World World 2 and Hawaiian statehood. The rather sexually repressed middle class white culture fantasizes about escapism to "the islands" and recreates the atmosphere with no concern as to authenticity. It's THEIR image, THEIR ideal, THEIR projection for a place that doesn't quite exist in reality. But, in my mind, "tiki" is forever linked to suburban mid-century American culture. NOT surf music, not hot rods, not punk. I'm not troubled by the inclusion of Caribbean or nautical things as I think they do relate to the escapism & general geographical ambiguity of the original idea. I would imagine some tiki restaurants played Latin music...Martin Denny certainly did. So, what is tiki to me? Tikis, of course....and I'd include really stone idols, tribal carvings from any exotic locale...Fake Chinese/Polynesian food, drinks with umbrellas, pineapples, fruits...LOUD Hawaiian-inspired clothing, velvet paintings, Hapa Haole, Hawaiian, & Exotica music (which could include some Americanized Latin,Caribbean, African or Asian inspired records, too). I mean, tiki is what tiki does, and since it's STILL around it will continue to change. Personally, I just don't "get" some of what is considered "tiki" to some people. But I'm sure people could say the same thing about my definition.

Since the question is "What is tiki to YOU?" rather than creating a definitive definition, I'll answer. Cause I think the going back & forth gets kinda pointless, although it's interesting to hear the different viewpoints.
So, to ME...tiki is....
Tiki is a suburban American reaction to heavier exposure to Pacific, Malayo-Polynesian, etc culture through World World 2 and Hawaiian statehood. The rather sexually repressed middle class white culture fantasizes about escapism to "the islands" and recreates the atmosphere with no concern as to authenticity. It's THEIR image, THEIR ideal, THEIR projection for a place that doesn't quite exist in reality. But, in my mind, "tiki" is forever linked to suburban mid-century American culture. NOT surf music, not hot rods, not punk.
I'm not troubled by the inclusion of Caribbean or nautical things as I think they do relate to the escapism & general geographical ambiguity of the original idea. I would imagine some tiki restaurants played Latin music...Martin Denny certainly did.
So, what is tiki to me? Tikis, of course....and I'd include really stone idols, tribal carvings from any exotic locale...Fake Chinese/Polynesian food, drinks with umbrellas, pineapples, fruits...LOUD Hawaiian-inspired clothing, velvet paintings, Hapa Haole, Hawaiian, & Exotica music (which could include some Americanized Latin,Caribbean, African or Asian inspired records, too).
I mean, tiki is what tiki does, and since it's STILL around it will continue to change. Personally, I just don't "get" some of what is considered "tiki" to some people. But I'm sure people could say the same thing about my definition.

Post #696904 by Kaiwaza on Mon, Oct 21, 2013 10:43 AM